Portable lighter



Patented June 11, 1929.

DAVID W. GREENE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

M. E. BERNHARDT COMPANY, INC., OF

NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF PORTABLE LIGHTER.

Application led May 28,

The present invention relates to portable lighters, and more particularly to that form of portable lighters intended to be carried in. the pocket, which are usually referred to either as pocket lighters or cigar lighters.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact,simple and effective construction,

and one in whichthere shall be little or no liability of an accidental operation of the device while carried in the pocket.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the portable lighter, and the devices and combinations of devices which will be hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. A

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which y Fig. 1 shows the lighter in side elevation.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view on the line 22 in Fig. 3. f

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged top plan View.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the upper portion of the device with the arm broken -away to show a -side viewy of the sparkingl wheel andthe mechanism for operating it.

Fig. 5 shows an under plan view of the disk carrying the latch with a part in section and looking upwardly on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 2 looking downwardly, a

. portion being shown in'section.

In the drawing 1 indicates a casing which may be of any suitable size and shape', and madel of any suitable material. Within the casing 1 is a chamber 2 filled with a fibrous packing 3 and adapted to contain .an inlammableliquid, all as usual in suchdevices. The casing 1 is provided with a bottom 4 and a top 5, and in the bottom 4 is a screw threaded opening 6, with a screw 7 fitting therein, by

means of which the iniiammable liquid may be admitted to the chamber 2 as required. The screv 7 is provided with a head 8 seated in a recess formed in the bottom 4, so that its under surface is flush with the under surface of the bottom 4, and beneath the hea-d8 is a washer 9, so that when the screwshalll have been screwed tightly into place a liquid-tight joint will be formed. The head 8 of the screw 7 is of such a diameter -that it will project slightly as indicated at 10, beyond the outei' wall of the casing 1, as indicated by dotted lines 11 in Fig. 3, so that the edge 8 may be engaged to turn the screw 7.

At the opposite end of the easing. 1 there is 1927. Serial No. 194,951.

permanently seated-in the bottom 4 and the top 5 a tube 12, saidtube being open at both ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Within the tube 12 is a coil spring 13, which at its lower end is seated about a post 14 carried by a screw 15, the screw engaging a threaded portion 16 at the lower end of the tube 12. The screw 15 is provided with a head 17 fitting a recess 18 formed in the under surface of the bottom 4, and of such a diameter that it will project as shown at 19, whereby the head 17 may be grasped and turned to removeor insert the screw to open or close the lowerend of the `tube 12. In the upper end of the tube l2 is a short cylindrical follower 2() provided with a post 21 with which the upper end of the spring 13 engages, and the follower' 20 engages and supports a cylindrical block of pyrophoric material 22; the arrangement being such that the spring 13 exerts a constant upward pressure on the block of pyrophoriel material 22'for a purpose which .will be hereinafter fullyv set forth.`

On 'the upper surface of the top 5 and surrounding the upper end of the tube 12 is fixedly mounted a base-23, from which project upwardly the opposed standards or supports 24. The supports 24 receive a 'shaft 25 upon which is mounted the sparking Wheel 26, and they downwardly extending ears 27 of the operating arm or lever 28, both of which, the sparking wheel and operating arm,I turn about the shaft 25 as a. center. The sparking wheel is provided on its periphery with the ratchet teeth 29, against which the spring 13 presses lthe block of pyrophoric material 22, theteeth 29 being pitched all in one direction, so that when the wheel shall be turned the teeth, engaging with the pyrophoric material will turn tothe right, as the device is shown in Fig. 2, and will, acting somewhat as a file, detach and ignite fine particles from the upper end of the pyrophoric material 22.

It is intended that the sparking wheel 26 shall be revolved or turned in one direction only, and only by the upward swing of the arm 28. A For this purpose the arm 28 is .provided with a spring pawl 3() located within the hollow arm 28 and engaging at its free end 31 with a series of ratchet teeth 32 formed upon one side of the wheel 26. (See Fig. 4.) The spaces between the teeth 32 of the sparking wheel 26 are beveled, as at 33, so that the free end 31 of the springrpawl 30 can ride over and engage step by step the ratchet teeth 32, as the arm 28 is raised and lowered, thus providing that the sparking wheel shall always turn in one direction only, the turning movement being produced by the upward movement of the arm 2'8. Upon the opposite side of the sparking wheel 26 is formed aV position by means of a latch 38, which en?4 gages a shoulder 39 at the forward end of the arm. Preferably the shoulder is formed upon a block 40 tted within the arm 28 and in which the forward end of the spring 30 is permanently seated, and the forward end of the block 40 beneath the shoulder 39 is beveled, as shown at 4l, and in like manner the forward upper edge of the latch 38 is beveled or rounded' as shown at 42. The latch 38 is carried bya latch plate 43fpivotally mounted upon a shaft 44 within a recess between the opposed members of a slotted post 45, which post is carried by a circular base46 supported by the top 5 of the casing, and positioned so that thelatch 38 willengage the shoulder 39 `to-hold the arm 28 in closed position. The

latch 38 is normally held in engaging position by means of a spring 47 fitted within the slotted post and held therein by a pin 48, one arm of the springengaging the latch plate 43 carrying the latch '38, and the other arm engaging the upper surface of the base 46. The lower end of the latch plate 43 is provided with a downwardly extending-toe 49 forming a stop whereby tonormally position the latch 38 to properly engage the shoulder 39 when the latch plate `43 is rocked forward vby the spring 47. The base 46 is provided upon its'under surface with a post 49a seated in a cup 50, and held therein by a screw 51, which passes through the closed end of the cup and engages the lower end of the post 49a. The upper end of the cup 50 is provided with a flange which is seated in a recess 52 formed in the upper surface of the top 5of the casing 1, the lower end of the cup passing through an opening 53 in the top 5. The cup is held' from turning in its seat by any suitable means, and ofcourse appropriate means'H will be employe'd toprovide for a tight joint between the cup and the chamber Within the cup 50 is a spiral spring 54 surrounding the post 49, one end of the spring being connected to the bottom of'the cup as at 55, and the upper end of the spring being fixed to the base 46, as at 56. A pin 57 Iprof jects upwardly from the Harige of the cup and enters a curved recess 58 in theunder surface of the base 46. The above arrangement is such that the spring 54 normally holds the l turned axially against the'tension ofv they spring 54 a distance permittedby the length of the recess 58, which will be suflicient to laterally displace the latch 38, thus disengaging it from the shoulder 39, pern'litting the spring to quickly throw upward the arm 28, to turn the sparking wheel, and producing the igniting sparks.

When. the base 46 is disengaged or released the spring 54 turns the base 46 returning the parts to normal position as shownpiu the drawing, in readiness for the latch 38 to again engage the shoulder39 at the forward end of the arm 28. When returned-v to normal position because of the complementary beveled and rounded surfaces 41 and 42, it will only be necessary to depress the arm 28 to cause the re-engagement of the latch 38 with the shoulder 39, the complementary beveled sul'facesrocking the latch plate- 43 against the tension of the -spring 47 as the arm 28 is forced down against the tensionl of the spring 35.

Thelatch plate 43 isshown as having a rearwardly extending projection 59 extending slightlybeyond the post 45, so that it may be engaged by the thumb or finger of theopera-t-or to rock the latch plate l43 backward, in lieu of engaging the base 46 andturning the same to displace the latchlaterally, if it is fdcsired to do so; but itl should be understood that this extending projection 59 is not at all necessary but constitutes merelyl a supplementary or auxiliary latch actuating device, and obviously it may be dispensed with if desired.

Projecting from the top 5 ofthe case is a wick tube 60 allixed thereto in any suitable manner, and which passes through the top 5 and opens into the lchamber -2, it being provided with a shoulder,61,which rests upon and may be soldered to the top 5. A wick 62 leads from the chamber 2 through the wick tube and projects from the topthereof as shown in Figi. 2. This wick conducts they inflammable liquid by capillary action so that the upper end of the wick maybe ignited by sparks from the pyrophoric material.

Surrounding the wick tube is a circular seat 63 formed in the upper surface of the top 5, and arranged to receive the lower open flaring peripheral edge 64A of a mulller or exllO tinguisher 65, which is at its upper end attached to and carried by the arm 28 in position to receive, enclose and cover the upper end of the wick tube, and when in the position shown inthe drawings will extinguish the flame and protect and preserve in moistened condition the upper end of the wick.

If desired a container for spare'sparking blocks may be provided as indicated in the form of a cylindrical case 66, with its closed end passed through the base 4 and secured therein, and projecting into-the chamber 2. The open end of this tubular case will be positione-d so that when the screw 15 is fitted into the lower end of the tube 12 the open end of the casing 66 will be closed by the disk 17.

Y In operation, assumin Y the parts to be in the position shown in fu l lines in the drawing, by simply engaging the peripheral edge of the base 46 and turning it about its axis the divided post 45 will be turned therewith carrying wit-h it the latch plate 43, and thus displacing the latch 38 laterally, until it disengages the shoulder 39, whereupon the spring 36 will quickly throw upward the arm 28 carrying with it the extinguisher 65, thus uncovering the wick 62. This upward movement of the arm 28, will, by means of the spring pawl 31, and' the ratchet teeth" 32 impart a quick rapid movement of the sparking wheel 26 over the sparking material 22,

the movement of the teeth of the sparking wheel as they engage the sparking material being towards the 'right in Fig. 2. This will cause sparks to be generated which will flow towards the wick 62 igniting'it. Thereafter the base 46 having been released, it will be restored to its normal position by the spring 54, thus placing the latch plate 43 and latch 39 in the position shown in full lines in the drawing, so that when the arm 28 shall be forcibly depressed against the tension of the spring 35, the latch 38 may again engage the shoulder 39 and hold the parts locked in position for another operation.

It will 'be understood that by the pawl and ratchet arrangement 31 and 32 the arm 28 in its downward movement will impart no turn- Y ing movement to the sparking wheel, and that the turning movement of the sparking wheel 1s progressive and step by step always inthe same direction, so that all parts thereof will be utilized.

As hereinbefore indicated the latch plate 43 may be operated to release the arm 28 by engaging and depressing the projection 59, if such projection be employed; but it is .not essential, and may be omitted .if desired. It will be noted that the construction of the arm 28 at its rear end with the downwardly extending members 27 forms a protective covering or housing for the sparking Wheel 26, protecting the greater part of the toothed surface thereof. It will be further noted' that the peripheral edge of the base 46 is so positioned when the casing is grasped in the hand it may be engaged by the thumb of the same hand, and that a slight movement of the thumb while in contact with the base 46 will be sutlicient to turn the base and latch plate carried thereby, imparting a lateral movement to the latch plate to release the arm. Thus the lighter constitutes a practical one hand operated device. It is to be particul'larly noted that while the disengagement of the latch an-d arm is effected b y a relative displacement laterally, they are engaged by a relative displacement in the same plane..

Having described my invention, I claim =1. Ina portable lighter, in combination, a casing, a pivoted spring actuated member mounted on the top of the casing, a pivoted spring pressed latch to hold said member in closed position, an axially movable support for said .latch whereby to displace said latch laterally with relation to the spring pressedv member to release the member.

2. In aportable lighter, in combination, a casing, a sprin pressed pivoted arm mounted on the top oir said casing, sparking mechanism operated by the upward movement of said arm, a shoulder at the forward end of said arm, a spring pressed latch arranged to engage said shoulder, an axially movable support'for said latch, a stop limiting the movement of said support, and a spring for returning said support to normal position.

3. In a portable lighter, 'in combination, a casing, sparking mechanism including a pivoted spring pressed member mounted at the top of the casing, an axially movable latch for engaging said member, a disk supporting said latch arranged to be manually engaged to turn said latchv axially to displace it laterally with relation to the spring pressed member', a stop limiting the axial .movement of said disk and latch to position said latch spring to return said disk and latch to normal position after it shall have been displaced laterally.

.4. In a portable lighter, in combination, ya

casing, sparking mechanism located at one end ofthe casing,a spring pressed arm or bar arranged to actuate said sparking mechanism, a spring pressed. latch arranged to to engage said-spring pressed member, and a l of the casing, a spring pressed arm or bar arranged to actuate said sparking mechanism, a spring pressed latch arranged to engage the end of the bar, and means whereby said latch is moved in line with the arm to engage the arm, and displaced laterally to release thearm.

7. In a portable lighter, in combination, a casing, a movable member mounted on the casing arranged to operate the sparking device, a latch to hold said member closed, a Cup shaped bearing carried by the ltop of 'the casing, a disk rotatably mounted on the casing over said bearing carrying said latch, a spring within the bearing to return thefdisk to normal position, a stop to limit the turning movement of the disk so as to position the latch to engage the arm.

8. Incombination a casing, sparkingin strumentalities mounted on the top of the casing including a sparking wheel, a tube open at both -ends passing through the casing from the top to the bottom thereof, a block of sparking material projecting from the upper end of said tube to engagethe sparking Wheel, a screw closing the lower end of the tube,

'and a spring located within the tube acting to hold the sparking material against the sparking wheel, said screw having an enlarged head, and a chamber fitted Within the bottom of the casing adjacent said tube with its open end closed by the head of t-he screw.

9. In combination, a casing, carrying at one end a spring pressed swinging member, sparking devices operated by the movements of said member, a latch to hold said member closed, said latch having movements both laterallyand in line with said member wheres by to release said member.

DAVID W. GREENE. 

